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Thousands apply for second tranche of Farm Business Improvement Scheme

DAERA announced today that 2,996 applications have been received from farmers and growers to Tranche 2 of Tier 1 of Farm Business Improvement Scheme–Capital (FBIS-C), which closed for applications on Friday 2 February 2018.

Tier 1 of FBIS-C is designed to support small scale investments that will improve the sustainability of farm businesses through the purchase of equipment and machinery, costing from £5,000 to £30,000, from a list of eligible items.

The vast majority (99.5 percent) of applications were submitted online.

All applicants were required to complete a farm safety risk assessment as part of their application. The Making it Safer risk assessment is a practical way of raising farmers’ awareness of health and safety on their premises. It highlights that it is good practice to do a regular review of how work is carried out and to put in place safer farm practices.

All the applications received are now being assessed against the scheme’s eligibility requirements. Eligible applications will be ranked according to the scheme’s selection criteria and Letters of Offer will be issued to the highest scoring applications, subject to confirmation of budget availability.

Notes to editors:

1. It is envisaged that the second Tranche of Tier 1 of FBIS-Capital will have a budget of £7.5million, subject to budget availability in 2018/19.

2. Eligible applications will be ranked according to the Scheme selection criteria and the available funding awarded to the highest scoring applications. As with Tranche 1, eligible applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria:

FBIS-C theme band;

Value for Money;

Online submission;

Age of applicant and

Educational Attainment.

3. To be eligible for Age of Applicant points, the applicant must be a named member of the farm business and be 40 years of age or younger on 3 January 2018. (This was the last working day before the application opening date, similar to the approach for Tranche 1).

4. FBIS-C Tier 1 is supported by DAERA and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

5. Further information on the FBIS-C Scheme is available on the DAERA website.

7. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.